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Pakistan PM signs Gaza Board of Peace charter at World Economic Forum in Davos

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) speaks with US President Donald Trump at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos on January 22, 2026. (AFP)
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Updated 22 January 2026
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Pakistan PM signs Gaza Board of Peace charter at World Economic Forum in Davos

  • Signing took place on the sidelines of World Economic Forum’s 56th annual meeting, attended by global political and economic leaders
  • Pakistan’s participation comes amid intensified international diplomatic efforts to address humanitarian and political fallout of the Gaza conflict
Updated 22 January 2026
Usama Iqbal Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday signed the Gaza Board of Peace (BoP) charter along with other world leaders in Davos at the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the official signing ceremony at the Congress Center in Davos, marking Pakistan’s participation in the peace-focused platform amid continued international efforts to address the humanitarian and political fallout of the Gaza conflict.

US President Donald Trump spoke at the event about the BoP but offered few details about its mandate and how the panel will work or might pursue efforts to end conflicts. He hailed the board as “something very, very unique for the world.”

“On the occasion of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, the Gaza Board of Peace is being formally signed,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. “Pakistan will also become part of the Board of Peace.”

Various world leaders walked in pairs and sat beside Trump on a table as they signed the charter. Sharif sat on Trump’s right side and shook hands with him. He spoke to the US president briefly before signing the charter. 

As per international media reports, the representatives of 19 countries signed the charter with Trump. These included Pakistan, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Morocco, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, UAE and Uzbekistan. 

Pakistan and seven other Muslim states announced in a joint statement on Wednesday that they had accepted Trump’s invitation to become a part of the Board of Peace body that aims to resolve conflicts, hoping for permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

The Board brings together participating states and stakeholders seeking to support dialogue, stability and peace-related initiatives linked to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

The White House last week announced the names of some members of the BoP to restore peace in conflict-ridden areas including Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire has been in place since October 2025. 

Chaired by Trump, the board would include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. 

Israel announced on Wednesday its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also be a member of the board.

Topics: Gaza Board of Peace World Economic Forum WEF Davos

World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues

Updated 01 February 2026
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World Bank president in Pakistan to discuss development projects, policy issues

  • Pakistan, World Bank are currently gearing up to implement a 10-year partnership framework to grant $20 billion loans to the cash-strapped nation
  • World Bank President Ajay Banga will hold meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the high-level visit
Updated 01 February 2026
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: World Bank President Ajay Banga has arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with senior government officials on development projects and key policy issues, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks multilateral support to stabilize economy and accelerate growth.

The visit comes at a time when Pakistan and the World Bank are gearing up to implement a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to grant $20 billion in loans to the cash-strapped nation.

The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan, due to start this year, will focus on education quality, child stunting, climate resilience, energy efficiency, inclusive development and private investment.

"World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives in Pakistan for a high-level visit," the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported on Sunday. "During his stay, he will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss economic reforms, development projects, and key policy issues."

Pakistan, which nearly defaulted on its foreign debt obligations in 2023, is currently making efforts to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

Besides efforts to boost trade and foreign investment, Islamabad has been seeking support from multilateral financial institutions to ensure economic recovery.

“This partnership fosters a unified and focused vision for your county around six outcomes with clear, tangible and ambitious 10-year targets,” Martin Raiser, the World Bank vice president for South Asia, had said at the launch of the CPF in Jan. last year.

“We hope that the CPF will serve as an anchor for this engagement to keep us on the right track. Partnerships will equally be critical. More resources will be needed to have the impact at the scale that we wish to achieve and this will require close collaboration with all the development partners.”

In Dec., the World Bank said it had approved $700 million in ​financing for Pakistan under a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting the country's macroeconomic stability and service delivery.

It ‍followed a $47.9 ‍million World Bank grant ‍in August last year to improve primary education in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province.

Topics: Ajay Banga

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